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Northern Canada has been gripped by a bitter and extended period of frigid weather, with readings persisting from 20 to 40 degrees below zero for an extended duration. On Tuesday, Braeburn in the Yukon recorded -55.7C, representing its most frigid December day in half a century.

Enduring Chill Below -40C

Meanwhile, Mayo and Dawson endured sixteen nights in a row dipping under the minus 40 Celsius threshold, with Mayo plunging to -50.4C earlier this week. Whitehorse also recorded 10 nights when temperatures dropped below -30C.

This Arctic air mass pushed further southward over the festive period. In Edmonton, the Christmas overnight low dipped under -28 degrees Celsius.

The day after Christmas was forecast to deliver minimum temperatures of at least minus 20C across many regions, from Edmonton in the west to Quebec in the east.

Forecast to Persist For Days to Come

The frigid conditions are predicted to linger into the new year. There are warnings of possible electrical grid strain in Yukon territory in the coming days, as the territory’s power grid comes under strain from peak power usage levels.

The lengthy cold snap originates from the polar vortex remaining anchored across the northern part of the continent this month, which funnels frigid northern air southward. In the coming week, forecasts indicate this cold air will pull back northward gradually, enabling milder Pacific air to move across the United States and penetrate southern Canadian regions.

Pronounced Disparity with US Warmth

Conversely, sections of America recorded the hottest December 25th in their history as the mercury climbed roughly 15 to 30 degrees above typical averages. Across wide regions, the atmosphere was more akin to late spring than late December.

Multiple states established new Christmas temperature highs. The capital of Oklahoma soared to 25C on Christmas Day, surpassing the previous peak of 22C set in 1982. Metropolitan areas such as Austin, Dallas, and Charlotte also logged readings above 25 degrees Celsius.

Heat-Dome Effect Fuels Warmth

Unseasonable heat is predicted to persist on December 26th and into the weekend, with unseasonable heat forecast to sweep through the American Southeast soon.

The warmth has been fuelled by a powerful high-altitude ridge stretching from the southwestern deserts northward and eastward, which generates a heat-dome phenomenon. This pattern establishes a broad area of high pressure across much of the continent, effectively capping warm air at lower altitudes. Sinking atmospheric air undergoes compression and additional heating, fostering the buildup of exceptional warmth.